2007 Year in Review – November

December 29, 2007

Nov. 1: Clovis city commissioners agreed to give American Renewable Fuels 25 acres of land and a 15-year tax exemption in exchange for constructing an $80 million biodiesel plant at the city’s Industrial Park. Commissioner Randy Crowder opposed the plan, expressing concern about water conservation.

Nov. 2: Petitions to support Sunday alcohol sales were available at four Clovis restaurants. The Committee for Clovis Progress said it needed 725 signatures from registered city voters before the issue could go before voters.

Nov. 3: Clovis Civic Center officials were debating whether to allow mixed martial arts events, combat sports in which two fighters compete until one cannot reasonably defend himself or is placed in a submission hold. Clovis Mayor David Lansford was among the sport’s critics.

Nov. 4: North Plains Mall officials were working with police to solve problems of teenagers loitering at the shopping center. “Many parents just drop their kids off and the mall ends up baby-sitting …,” said Police Chief Dan Blair.

Nov. 5: A Clovis man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexually assaulting three foster children. Officials said Richard Glascoe, 43, would serve at least 85 percent of the sentence before he’d be eligible for parole.

Nov. 6: Curry County commissioners gave the OK for a new security guard at the county courthouse. The district court would provide $95,000 over a two-year period to pay the salary for the position. … County commissioners, in a 3-2 vote, settled a dispute that allows Curry County Mounted Patrol to pay rent for the rodeo arena with a scoreboard the Mounted Patrol purchased for $10,000 in 2004.

Nov. 7: New Mexico Health Department was reporting babies born to young teens in Curry County dropped 18 percent from 2005 to 2006. Babies born to single mothers had risen 2 percent.

Nov. 8: Clovis Mayor David Lansford announced he would not seek a fourth term in 2008. “It’s going to be huge shoes to fill,” City Commissioner Len Vohs said. … More than 100 gathered at Baxter-Curren Senior Center to honor area veterans. … A man accused of stealing from vendors during October’s Peanut Valley Festival in Portales was found hiding under a bed in a Portales residence.

Nov. 9: New interpretive signs and a shelter were dedicated in ceremonies at the Blackwater Draw archaeological dig site north of Portales.

Nov. 10: About 40 entries, including six veterans groups, participated in the annual Veterans Day parade down Clovis’ Main Street. … U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., was the latest to join in the race for Pete Domenici’s U.S. Senate seat. Reps. Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce had also announced plans to seek the position. … Steven Spriggs, 49, of Clovis died in a vehicle rollover north of town.

Nov. 11: Hillcrest Park Zoo and the Clovis News Journal were sponsoring a contest to name a pair of spotted hyenas. Early entries included Mork and Mindy, Jack and Jill, and Elvis and Priscilla.

Nov. 12: Mainline Bowl owner Phil Wood was making plans to reopen Clovis’ bowling alley after it sustained major damage during the March 23 tornado. He predicted the alley would be open again in December.

Nov. 14: A narcotics checkpoint set up near Elida netted three arrests for methamphetamine and two arrests for marijuana. Officials said 15 vehicles were searched.

Nov. 15: County clerks across the state were speaking out against high costs associated with new voting machines mandated by the federal government. Coni Jo Lyman said Curry County would have to pay $26,000 if it entered into a contract for maintenance with the company that made the voting machines.

Nov. 16: Rayshaun Parson, the 22-year-old Clovis woman who pleaded guilty to kidnapping a baby from a Lubbock hospital, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. … State officials were planning to slaughter about 12,000 Curry County dairy cattle after more than 150 had been confirmed to have bovine tuberculosis.

Nov. 17: Clovis and Portales residents donated 17,500 pounds of food to the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico. The food drive produced about 13,000 pounds the year before, Executive Director Nancy Taylor said.

Nov. 18: City commissioners had declared Ashlee Stallings Day in honor of Clovis’ entry in the Miss Rodeo New Mexico competition.

Nov. 19: Portales Fire Department personnel performed a rescue at the J.D. Heiskell grain elevator. Officials said the rescue took about an hour, using the department’s aerial ladder truck. They provided little information, but said one person was transported to Roosevelt General Hospital.

Nov. 20: A Fort Sumner police officer and his wife were arraigned on charges they conspired to take and trade a vehicle seized by the De Baca County Sheriff’s Department. Robert Roybal and MaryAnn Sanchez were released on appearance bonds. Roybal was suspended without pay, pending the outcome of the case, said Police Chief Wayne Atchley.

Nov. 21: Salvation Army bell ringers were in action in front of area retailers. … Joe Garcia was leading Texas Tech’s football team with 79 tackles. The senior safety is a 2003 Clovis High graduate.

Nov. 22: Workers at the Lighthouse Mission cooked up 38 turkeys and 20 gallons of green beans to feed 289 people during their annual Thanksgiving dinner. Volunteers with Matt 25 Hope Center and Clovis Fire Department delivered another 250 meals to area shut-ins.

Nov. 23: Area stores opened as early as 4 a.m. and the Christmas shopping season officially began despite wintry weather. Temperatures were in the 20s and Clovis received .01 inch of snow.

Nov. 24: The third annual Turkeybrawl Dodgeball Tournament took place at the Texico gym with 18 teams participating. The event was a fundraiser for the Clovis High Plains Rotary Club. … Fort Sumner scored on its first six possessions and went on to win its third consecutive Class 1A state football championship. The Foxes beat Carrizozo 39-14.

Nov. 25: Organizers of a petition to force an election on Sunday alcohol sales had about half the 725 signatures they needed.

Nov. 26: Police believed a fugitive charged in the shooting death of a 10-year-old boy two years ago had returned to the Clovis area. A reward of up to $5,000 was being offered for information leading to the arrest of Noe Torres.

Nov. 28: City commissioners earmarked $1 million for an effluent reuse pipeline project, connecting city property to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project overall was expected to cost $16 million, with $1.5 million already received from state and federal funds; the rest would come from water sales. … Mike Landgraf, best known for his philanthropic spirit and large donations to United Way of Eastern New Mexico, died at age 63.

Nov. 29: Area cotton gin operators were reporting good quality but low quantity. Officials said many farmers opted to grow corn instead of cotton this year.

Nov. 30: Tucumcari Municipal Schools assistant superintendent Dennis Roch announced plans to run for the state representative seat being vacated by Brian Moore. Moore, a Clayton Republican, said he would not seek re-election when his term expires in 2008.